Wood back in to give England an extra option
MARK Wood replaces Shoaib Bashir in England’s only change for the third Test against India starting in Rajkot today.
The England selectors have opted for Wood’s pace ahead of Bashir’s off-spin, with Rehan
Ahmed’s visa issue now resolved.
The teenage leg-spinner’s single-entrance visa expired the moment he left for England’s mid-series break in the United
Arab Emirates and he was initially red-flagged upon the team’s return to India on Monday. He was initially granted an emergency two-day visa.
England go into the Test with the series level at 1-1 after the opening two Tests in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
It is the first time England have gone with two seamers so far this series with Wood and James
Anderson available to skipper Ben Stokes in his 100th Test.
On bringing in Durham teammate Wood for Bashir, Stokes said: “Taking a bit of knowledge from the last Test match we played here, albeit a long time ago, it was a pretty true, flat wicket. Looking at it today, it looks a bit platey but I think it’s a good wicket.
“Bringing in an extra seamer this week is the option we’ve gone with because we think it’s going to give us the best chance of winning this week.”
Ahmed’s positive reaction to his visa issue meant that axing him for the third Test was never considered, according to Stokes.
“The great thing about youth is they just take everything in their stride. He handled a situation that could have affected quite a lot of people in a different way very, very well for such a young kid,” he said.
“There was no thoughts around not playing him this week. The
Test matches he’s played so far, he’s done very, very well and everything we’ve asked of him he’s gone out and tried to deliver.”